Microsoft Unmasks New Russian Hacking Efforts Against Upcoming US Elections

Microsoft uncovered new Russian efforts to meddle in US elections once again using fake profiles and web domains to target US political groups, according to a company statement. The hacking group — with ties to the Russian government — established fake internet domains pretending to represent two conservative US think tanks: the International Republican Institute…”

Microsoft uncovered new Russian efforts to meddle in US elections once again using fake profiles and web domains to target US political groups, according to a company statement.

The hacking group — with ties to the Russian government — established fake internet domains pretending to represent two conservative US think tanks: the International Republican Institute and the Hudson Institute.

These two organizations have voiced opposition to President Donald Trump’s warming relations with Russia and called for imposing sanctions against Moscow, according to the New York Times.

An additional three web domains were discovered to be fake pages claiming to belong the US Senate, according to the statement from Microsoft.

The company did not offer any further information on the fake domains.

In July, Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the former FBI director who is looking into Russian interference in the 2016 US Presidential and Congressional Elections, charged twelve Russian intelligence officers for hacking Democratic Party emails.

Mueller is investigating whether the president sought to obstruct justice as well as whether his campaign colluded with Russia’s covert effort to sway the 2016 presidential election in Trump’s favor.

“Study the late Joseph McCarthy, because we are now in period with Mueller and his gang that make Joseph McCarthy look like a baby! Rigged Witch Hunt!” Trump recently tweeted in response to the Russia probe.

Meanwhile, the investigation into Trump’s former campaign head Paul Manafort and his alleged role in collusion that may have occurred is ongoing after the jury adjourned Monday without reaching a verdict.